Sabres Classics: On the verge of returning to Eastern Conference Finals

The Buffalo Sabres entered Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Bruins with the opportunity to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season.

Following their 3-0 victory in Game 4 of the series, Buffalo had a chance to eliminate the Bruins in Game 5 but fell short. At FleetCenter, the Bruins lived to see another day thanks to a 5-3 victory. Dominik Hasek made just 22 saves on 26 shots before leaving the game after the second period when he re-injured his groin.

If you don't want to find out what happened, stop reading, but tomorrow's Sabres Classics game at 8 p.m. on MSG is Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In front of a raucous home crowd, Hasek returned to form in Game 6 and Buffalo's stifling defense stepped up in a 3-2 win. At the end of the game, fans chanted "We want the Leafs!''

Buffalo scored the first goal in Games 2 through 5 and the team continued that streak in Game 6. Captain Michael Peca scored the Sabres' sixth power-play goal of the series 5:15 into the contest, and after future Sabre Steve Heinze tied it for Boston, Wayne Primeau gave the Sabres a 2-1 lead late in the first period.

Curtis Brown scored what would hold up as the game-winning goal 1:08 into the second period. The Bruins made a late push, however, as 19-year-old Joe Thornton scored with 1:03 remaining in regulation to put the Bruins within one.

The marker was the third of Thortnon's postseason career. At that point in his career, he played 17 playoff games. Now at age 40, he's at 31 goals, 102 assists (24th all-time) and 133 points (41st all-time) in 179 postseason games (38th all-time).

This "Sabres Classics" game will re-air on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on MSG and stream live on the MSG Go app.